DENVER (KDVR) — A suspect illegally in the country threw Molotov cocktails on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on Sunday to attack a group that gathered peacefully in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza, authorities said. The FBI called the incident a “targeted terror attack.”

12 victims were injured, but details are still sparse. Officials initially said Monday that four women and four men, who range from 52 to 88 years old, had injuries ranging from minor to severe, police said. As of Monday afternoon, two victims were still in the hospital.

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The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was charged with a federal hate crime, according to court documents. He’s also facing 42 state charges, which are:

• Eight counts of first-degree murder after deliberation – criminal attempt
• Eight counts of first-degree murder with extreme indifference – criminal attempt
• Six counts of first-degree assault of an at-risk victim
• Two counts of first-degree assault
• Two counts of possession of an incendiary device
• 16 counts of possession of an incendiary device – criminal attempt

Two court affidavits say Soliman confessed to the attack after being taken into custody Sunday and told the police he planned it for a year and would do it again, and that he planned to die in the attack. Initially, he planned to carry out the attack with a gun, but state court documents say he was denied the purchase due to his immigration status. The FBI’s affidavit was released in support of the federal hate crime charge filed by the Justice Department on Monday.

Soliman had entered the country on a tourist visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023, the Department of Homeland Security said. He had filed for asylum in September 2022, DHS said. Soliman told officials, according to court documents, that he was born in Egypt, lived in Kuwait for 17 years, and moved to Colorado Springs three years ago with his wife and five kids.

Witnesses reported that the suspect also threw an incendiary device into the crowd and was heard yelling “Free Palestine.”

Sunday’s attack occurred during a peaceful, weekly demonstration held by Run for Their Lives in Boulder. The group described itself as an apolitical organization that has the sole mission of “walking peacefully to raise awareness for the 58 hostages still held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza.”

On Sunday, the group reaffirmed its commitment to peacefully calling for the swift return of all the hostages.

Chief of Boulder Police Stephen Redfearn said Sunday that he was aware of national law enforcement calling the incident a terror attack, but said he would not speculate on motive during this early stage of the investigation.

The location of the attack was near 13th Street, which crosses the Pearl Street Mall, and is a car-accessible road that crosses the walkable portion of the shopping area. The roadway borders the Boulder County Historic Courthouse and a few other county offices.

In a statement, Gov. Jared Polis said, “My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured by this heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community. Boulder is strong. We have overcome tragedies together and will get through this together as a community.”

One man spoke to FOX31’s Jeremy Hubbard about the incident and said he was afraid of repercussions to his family. “You see all these hate crimes that are going on around the country, things that are happening to Jews all around the country, and I’ve got two kids and despite my my initial instinct to run into this situation it’s once I was there, I realized how dangerous it was, which is one of the reasons why I didn’t go and and tackle this guy,” Brian said.

The investigation is active and ongoing. The FBI is asking anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone with videos, social media posts and recordings is asked to upload them at fbi.gov/boulderattack.

— This story includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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